Manuel Noriega

Manuel Noriega (11 February 1934-) was the President of Panama from 1983 to 1989, succeeding Ruben Dario Paredes and preceding Guillermo Endara. Under his rule, Panama was a bridge for the cocaine trade from Colombia into Nicaragua and North America. In 1989, he was deposed by Operation Just Cause by the United States.

Biography
Manuel Noriega was born on 11 February 1934 in Panama City, Panama, and studied at the Military School of Chorillos in Lima, Peru. He was educated at the United States' School of the Americas alongside other future dictators such as Leopoldo Galtieri of Argentina. In 1969 he was made a Lieutenant-Colonel after supporting Omar Torrijos during a coup, but in 1981 he was responsible for the bombing of Torrijos' plane. Florencio Flores Aguilar became the new leader of Panama's National Guard, and Noriega was made Chief-of-Staff. In 1983 he promoted himself to General and became the military dictator of Panama, ruling over many presidents from 1983 to 1989. He was funded by Colombia, who sent drugs through Panama to North America. He was indicted on drug charges in 1988 by the United States, and in 1989 the United States launched an invasion of Panama after Noriega beat down on protesters and brushed aside US-recognized president Guillermo Endara. Noriega was captured by CIA operatives Frank Woods and Alex Mason after hiding in the Apostolic Nunciature, the Vatican City embassy. From 1989 to 2011 he was in US custody, and he was later released back to Panama.